Prudence Journal of Environmental Science Research Vol. 1(2), pp. 5-11 November, 2013
http:// prudencejournals.org/pjesr/index.htm
©2013 Prudence Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The hydrodynamic of Dong River, Hutan Lipur Lata
Jarum, Pahang, Malaysia
Mohd Khairul Amri Kamarudin¹*, Mohd. Ekhwan Toriman¹, Pan Ia Lun², Nor Azlina Abdul
Aziz¹ and Muhd. Barzani Gasim²
¹Environmental Research Institute of the East Coast (ESERI), University Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300 Kuala Terengganu,
Terengganu. Malaysia.
²School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences (PPSSSA), Faculty of Science and Technology, National
University of Malaysia, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: amri.ukm@gmail.com.
Accepted 13 September, 2013
ABSTRACT
The natural environment of Lata Jarum with its chilly cold water of waterfall is one of the local leisure
spots in Raub, Pahang. The waterfall of Dong River is located within the virgin forest Benum Mountain
(or in local name is Gunung Benum) - Hutan Lipur Lata Jarum. For the hydrology research, we have five
sampling stations with four stations at the upstream and one at downstream. This research is carried
out in order to study the hydrodynamic of Dong River. Observed data was carried on 16 to 17 November
2009. The results indicate that, the flow was ranged from 3.452 to 20.331m³/s while velocity of water was
ranged from 0.128 up to 4.000m/s. The XP-SWMM modeling was used to study the hydrodynamic of the
river. Simulation result showed that, the flow was ranged from 5.995 to 36.212 m³/s and the velocity was
ranged from 3.46 to 9.32m/s. Through the study, we can predict; the high velocity of river water would
lead to river flooding easily once rainfall has occurred due to several characteristics of the river such as
fast river velocity, limited drainage capacity and hydraulic regime which found to be less tolerate with
high volume of discharge.
Key words: Hydrodynamic river, river simulation, XP-SWMM modeling, Dong River.
INTRODUCTION
Availability of sufficient and appropriate data describing
the cascade or channel characteristics is very rare
especially in developing countries like Malaysia.
However, in many countries, mostly because of
maintenance costs, the present trend is a diminution of in
situ networks (Vorosmarty et al., 1999). Moreover, large
regions in the world are still poorly gauged due to
accessibility difficulties (Augusto et al., 2009). This
situation will change by taking a long-term on going
process in hydrological scientific research and with the
effort of collaboration of governmental agencies and
scientific research institutions.
Lata Jarum is located within the virgin forest named
Hutan Lipur Lata Jarum, Hulu Dong. It possesses a
natural cascade system and the water intake at the
upstream of the river has been diverted to supply the
water for electric generating plant of TNB (Empangan
Hidroelektik Mini Hulu Dong) but the generating plant had
been stopped from operation many years ago. The
undisturbed and uniqueness of environment of Lata
Jarum also famous with the blooming of Bunga Pakma
(Rafflesia) is suitable for eco-tourism and research based
destination. But at the same time, it should be put into
effort to conserve and protect it for local welfare.
Erik (1978) and Gossling (2002) have found that,
tourism contributes to our environmental changes
especially to the physical environment. From a global
perspective it contributes to changes in land cover and
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